3.22.2013

sew bossy: you ARE the boss of me.


Over six months in the making... the Sew Bossy Initiative has landed.

Waaaaaay back in August 2012, I wanted Heather Lou of closet case files to jump in the promaballoona limo, but my wires were drunk crossed, and my invite never made it. But, eureka! It sparked a stroke of genius in sweet Heather: we send each other everything we need to make a creation, and post it. No suggestions from the participating peanut galleries, you gotta make what you get. GENIUS.

Or not. I know what you're thinking (or maybe I knew what I was thinking): this could go badly. And yeah, it could have, but having ogled the files of this particular Closet Case since its inception, I knew her style would suit me hella fine. I wholeheartedly accepted the brilliant sasstress's gauntlet.


In October, Heather hit me with an email: CHOO CHOO. That is the sound of the awesome train leaving for the station. Days later, everything I needed to make up salme's yoke dress arrived at station Kalkatroona, right down to hem lace, invisible zip, bias tape, shimmery button, and mix cd to blast whilst stitching!


Yet, it wasn't till December that the train made it back to Heather's neck of the woods. Seriously, trains take forever. It made stops at Halloween, a new job, Hurricane Sandy, a new home... unfortunately it missed mowing down the JACKASS that broke into my girl's apartment and took everything that wasn't nailed down. 

But the Sew Bossy Initiative could not be stopped.


CHECK OUT THAT WAXED COTTON! Golden peanuts? YES PLEASE. Now, ahem and ahrrrm, a certain Sew Boss may notice that a certain recipient used a different fabric for the yoke. Casting my memory back six months ago, I recall that said Sew Boss wished she had been able to find a sheer black for the yoke, but had to settle for black cotton. So hey man, really I was just following orders by pulling this sheer outta the stash.

(I know. I cheated. It's just that I truly am so very, very bossy.)


I love the way this waxed cotton holds the pleats of the pattern! And can we talk about the waist on the salme yoke dress? I feel like it's a magic trick. MY WAIST GOES ON FOREVAH!!!


Aaaaaand, BONUS golden peaunts trick... when you pull a totally doofus move and slice right up the middle of a bodice that's supposed to be on the fold, you can stitch it back together with barely a nod to your error. Those peanuts disguise everything, yo. 

(Yeah, in wanting to make this absolutely perfect for miss skip-to-my-heartbeat lou, I pulled what Ruggy has recently dubbed a "ruinaballoona". That ruggy. He's a card.)


Don't you hate it when you think your camera is in focus and IT TOTALLY ISN'T.

It was so much fun to be a part of Heather Lou's brainstorm-- like going shopping with your girlfriend that has eighty two tons of fashion sense and letting her pick your outfit. If you don't know her already, just wait, you'll see why I happily jumped straight into the deep end of the pond.

We thought you might like to play too...if you want to throw your own bossy decree out to a sewing pal, feel free to grab that delicious button my girl made up top! (Isn't it cute as hell? I'm telling you. fashion sense.) Now, head on over to heather lou's and see what i forced her to sew! I can't wait for the reveal!!!

update: the Sew Boss has made a page for this venture, explaining the details ever so nicely ("the sewing world equivalent of a trust fall") check it out, and HOLY COW HER DRESS IS AWESOME.

78 comments:

  1. I knew that you could handle the peanuts. AND HOW. Your sheer black stash bust was a stroke of genius and it's not the 4 margaritas I just imbibed talking. LOVE. You look smashing. What a plan. WHAT A PLAN. xoxo

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    1. I forgot to mention (due to being a little bombed last night) that this pattern is dope. I love the exaggerated sweetheart neckline and I didn't even know there were pleats! Is it wrong if I make it too? I still have the PDF.....

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    2. dude i thought you already HAD! thanks for this plan, mastermind. brilliant.

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  2. Y'all are so fearless, and it paid off so well!! I think I'd be more afraid of picking something out for someone else than having something assigned to me. I would *definitely* agonize over fabric and notions even more than I do for myself.

    Unrelated: the backdrop is cool, but all the hands in the last picture really freaked me out, once I noticed them!

    =D

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    1. the picking out was definitely stressful, i changed my lining choice four times!!!!

      yeah, those hands are freaky. i decided they're benevolent meditating hands. from IKEA.

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  3. So so fun! Both dresses turned out great. I would love to find someone to do this with!

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  4. Oh. My. Lord. That peanut fabric is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. This is absolutely epic!!!

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  5. I love mixed prints- so I always enjoy your posts- you, Heather Lou and Salme should take it on the road!

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    1. ditto, girl. and i'm hoping heather lou makes her salme soon...

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  6. Ok, those golden peanuts are totally awesome. Love the little bit of trim at the bottom of the skirt, too.

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    1. she meant the trim for hem tape, but i liked it peeking out :)

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  7. :) crazy cool.. what a fun and fabulous dress, sis!

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  8. Amazing idea - so much fun! And that dress is fantastic!

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  9. you ARE so bossy...but look at those results!! :-) i love it as a twist on your usual style...but style obviously oona!

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    1. i KNOW. i think i have finally accepted that aspect of my personality (the ast meetup weekend pretty much nailed it in.)

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  10. Wowwww love the fun fabric and pattern..this idea is genius

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  11. The dress is lovely and as usual fits like a glove. but where oh where did the pink bandprint fabric come from? What are you going to do with it? It is fantastic in the real sense of the word.
    Connie Turner

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  12. This is wonderful! Ooh now I kind of want you to boss me around...

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  13. gorgeous dress Oona, you did good, and your boss did good too ;) Those fabrics are delightful, and now I gots to go check out that pattern some more!

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    1. the pattern is fun! i should have taken some length out of the upper back, but i was too excited :)

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  14. You are so clever!! I love this idea!!! Hmmmmm who can I boss around? :-)

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  15. Gold peanuts? Lace? Delicious waist? This is so WIN that it deserves its own trophy!

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    1. with the gold, it is almost a trophy in itself... i loved your chocolate raspberry description of heather lou's :)

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  16. Ah, love this!! I want to take part too!!! Golden peanuts...how can that not make you smile!

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  17. This was seriously a match made in heaven! Two of my sewing idols?! Dressing each other??!!! This is like the best thing ever. If Sew Bossy was a reality tv show I would be such a freaking addict... And golden peanuts!!! You pull them off with aplomb. APLOMB I SAY!

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    1. agh yes, i even saw tim gunn in the street yesterday. I SHOULD HAVE PITCHED IT TO HIM.

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  18. "Ruinabaloona"!? That is hysterical. Point for Ruggy!

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  19. This is such a FUN awesome idea! I'm nuts about the dress! LOVE bossy gals btw, am one of them:P

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  20. I LOVE this concept. God it makes me angry that I didn't come up with the idea first!

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  21. You are the business lady, you and Heather are IN business, what a brilliant idea! both of your makes are killer! I'm totally gonna stick that badge on my page and pose the question. :)

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    1. if eight thousand peeps don't raise their hands, i will be shocked. (and i very might well have to be a taker.)

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  22. It turned out so great! Oona you glow in this!!!!

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  23. Holy crappers! What a fab dress! Golden peanuts!!!!!

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  24. You two are birlliant - and both of your garments are showstoppers! It all looks so fun that I want in too! I'm going to swap fabric and patterns with Heather from http://handmadebyheatherb.blogspot.ca/ and Leila from http://threedresses.wordpress.com/ We're each sending to one person... We'll let you know how it goes! :)

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  25. This look so awesome!! You are working miracles with that pattern and fabric!

    Somehow, I knew that you would break the rules! You brat ;o)

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  26. Oh my word, this is brilliant! Love the idea of Sew Bossy, love the golden peanuts (although I'll be honest, my first thought was that it was a golden turd print), love the black sheer yoke. Both of you had fantastic makes!

    Ruggy, as always, is inspired in his comments.

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  27. Love the dress, that print is amazing! And I think the Sew Bossy idea is awesome!

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  28. Awesome, awesome idea!!! Love the dress. :-)

    Now to start thinking who to convince to pair up for some bossy sewing......

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    1. Oooh, good idea!

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    2. OMG guys! GUYS! Oona KNOWS WHO I AM!?!

      Excuse me while I go hyperventilate over here for a moment and then pretend like this isn't TOTALLY a big deal.

      Also, Kat, you're on :)

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  29. Lol @ golden turd print! I'd make a dress out of that, just to prove you CAN polish a turd :D

    Seriously though, I love ridiculous prints, I just never have anywhere to wear them..not even any weddings this year :(

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  30. This is so cute. You have turned a ridiculous print into something really neat!

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    1. teehee! all heather lou's brilliant imagination, i never would have seen this print as this dress!

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  31. Peeeaanuts! I thought they were golden worms. Worms or no, it's so beautiful (fabric and dress, both).

    Also, I firmly believe that everybody needs to experience an Oona-picked fabric, even just once.

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  32. Love, love, LOVE. Peanuts. Gold peanuts! I may be fanning myself just a little. I hope a lot of people jump on board with the Sew Bossy idea, what fun!

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    1. i do to. it is SO cool to get a complete kit from your favorite sewist.

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  33. Ahh this is great. What a fun idea! Can't wait to see others swaps too:)

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  34. Your dress looks fab! I love the contrast lace, and I love the Sew Bossy idea! How fun!!

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  35. Such a fun idea. It will be interesting to see the match-ups that pop up on the internet. Both of the garments in this swap turned out great!

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  36. that heather lou is a pinky and the brain genius.

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  37. ERMEHGERD I love love LOVE this dress. LOVE. My heart is oozing joy over the fabulousness of it!!

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!